16 common causes for above ground pool leaks in Orlando( That you may not be aware of)

The swimming pool industry has a saying “There are two kinds of pools – Those that are leaking, and those that are going to leak”. If your above-ground pool is losing water, don’t be too alarmed. It was going to happen, eventually.

ABOVE-GROUND POOL LEAKS ARE EASY WHEN YOU SEE THEM. MOST THOUGH, YOU CAN’T SEE

Thinking that you might have a leak in your above-ground pool is the first step on this stress road. Some will stay in this stage for a good while just adding some water when it needs it. Eventually, the pool loses water at a greater rate and it’s time to face the music. It’s now time to discover why the pool is losing water.

Most that will find this article useful at somewhere in between the “I think I might have a leak” stage and the “It’s time to figure out why the pool is leaking” stage.

If your water-losing pool is in Orlando or Central Florida, this will help just a bit more.

16 COMMON CAUSES AN ABOVE-GROUND SWIMMING POOL LOSES WATER (THAT YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE OF)

1 Evaporation

Every pool owner going down the stress road of water loss will start early by learning a little about evaporation.

Evaporation is the first and best dream that your pool may not really have a leak. The pool’s water level is constantly dropping by this naturally occurring condition when dry air pulls moisture from anywhere it can to hold some water.

The rate of evaporation (how much water gets sucked out of your pool by the air over a 24-hour period) is important to know, so here are a couple of clues:

A In Orlando, I have personally seen as much as one-quarter inch of water loss per 24 hours. That would mean a pool’s water level can drop almost two inches over the span of a week. (7 days x 1/4” = 1 3/4” loss per week)

This is the most I’ve ever seen in the most extreme evaporation conditions in Orlando

B The rate of evaporation is highest when the air is driest. This means in Central Florida, your pool will lose more water from evaporation during the fall and spring months AND NOT IN THE SUMMER MONTHS.

C In the fall, when the Orlando summer rains stop and the air gets dry, this is when people think their pool has a leak.

2 The pool liner gets old and brittle

Above-ground pool liners don’t hold water perfectly and then one day just die. They are like us. They get brittle as they get old. And when they are just brittle enough, then they begin to get pinholes or micro-cracks in them.

This can be a commonly unseen reason the pool is losing water. And due to above-ground pool liners having ridiculously long (and unrealistic) manufacturer’s warranties, many don’t consider their liner is now old after five years.

Finding this type of liner leak is very difficult, but that’s not the bad news. The real bad news is if you are diligent and lucky enough to find one pinhole and patch it, there will be more on the way.

Yep. Time for a new liner.

3 Plastic equipment hoses fail and get pinholes

If your above-ground pool has the two six-foot plastic flex hoses that came with it and are connecting the pump and filter to the pool (skimmer and return), they can get pinholes in them.

These plastic connector hoses are usually the weakest link of your above-ground pool. And as they get old and brittle, they can get pinholes too. These pinholes can sometimes easily go unnoticed and leak water out of your pool.

Often, when these cheap hoses fail, they split open and water goes everywhere. What I’m saying here is they can sometimes fail with little pinholes streaming water that you don’t really see or notice.

4 Cartridge filter lid leaking

Cartridge-type filters are the overall best to have for your above-ground pool (especially in Orlando), but some will have lids that leak in a very sneaky way.

Since filter lids are regularly removed, they can lose their seal and leak sometimes without you noticing.

5 Sand-type filter’s multi-port valve failing

A sand filter’s top valve can commonly leak after a few years. And some of them can go unnoticed as they can leak out of the backwash/waste opening when some have them plumbed or hoses attached to them.

Always check the end of your backwash/discharge line for moisture just in case the valve has a small leak.

6 Pool pump shaft seal leaking

Every above-ground pool pump has a seal between its electric motor and the pump. This seal can fail and leak water from under the pump straight down and into the ground without showing much if any moisture around the pump area.

Getting down on hands and knees can sometimes be the only way to see this leak.

7 Skimmer box leaking

The skimmer in an above-ground pool is maybe the most common place there can be a leak. Sometimes the leak is hard to see because it is streaming down the pool wall and the water is blending in with the wall’s texture.

Getting your head under the skimmer and wiping around where the skimmer meets the wall will show you if it’s leaking from there.

8 Return fitting leaking

Although not as common, the return fitting attached to the pool wall can have a leak streaming seamlessly down the pool wall and going unnoticed.

With the pump on, wipe the return fitting dry where it meets the wall to make sure there is no leak.

9 Kids with sharp things in the pool

Sharp things can cut or puncture above-ground pool liners. Sometimes the cut is so small and subtle that you never see it. And with kids playing with things that shouldn’t be in the pool, this can cause more than one micro-hole.

Oh, and kids not following pool rules come in all ages. NOTE: If your kids are little angels that never do anything wrong, then just blame their friends that come over to swim.

10 Trauma/damage to the outside of the pool wall

The most common example of this is a lawnmower shooting a rock from under it and hitting the pool wall, but there are many other happenings in backyards that can cause holes in pool walls from the outside.

These holes are often made without anyone knowing and they can be hidden from view on the backside of the pool (where no one ever goes) or under an elevated pool deck.

11 Doggie-paddling

If you let dogs swim in your above-ground pool (and why not), then consider that may damage the pool liner if paddling too close to the pool wall.

Tears from dog paws can be extremely difficult to see even though they are close to the pool’s surface. If your pool is losing water then stops losing water at a certain high point AND you let dogs swim, then consider some high up liner tears.

12 Wild animal got in the pool

No. I don’t mean your Uncle Charlie with the slight drinking problem.
 What I mean here is a raccoon or squirrel or something got in the pool while no one was around, and then clawed its way out before anyone noticed.

Those wild animal claws can do a number on an above-ground pool liner at the pool surface. And sometimes you won’t notice it.

13 Nutgrass

Nutgrass is a special grass that be in your yard when the pool was installed. It can then wait a while, then decide to grow up right through the pool’s liner.

And until the blade grows a bit, you may not notice the hole it made at the bottom of your pool. Nutgrass can be in any yard in Orlando, but areas like Deltona and Kissimmee can have it the most. Learn about nutgrass here.

14 Horned-nose beetles

Although pretty rare in the last 20 years, these beetles with super sharp horns can crawl under a pool liner and then get trapped with their horns against the liner and make little holes in the vinyl.

Orlando and Central Florida have horned-nose beetles, so consider that as a possible reason your pool has a leak. Just don’t consider it much as it is fairly rare.

15 Rocks under the liner (Rarely a leak cause)

OK, so rocks and other sharp-feeling things very rarely cause holes in above-ground pool liners, BUT OH BOY DO THEY GET BLAMED FOR IT

Think of trying to stick a needle through a rubber band. The rubber band wraps and stretches around the needle quite a bit before it goes through.

This is the case with pool liners as they can stretch around things more than you think.

16 Roots growing under liner

Above-ground pool liners transfer some moisture (like a soda can) into the ground. Because of this, things that live and need moisture can grow to the liner.

It is super common for roots to grow under pool liners. Most do without anyone noticing, but some continue to grow and the swimmer can eventually feel it under the pool.

Growing roots rarely make holes in pool liners UNLESS the liner is getting old and brittle. Where these roots meet the liner can be an excellent point for the old liner starting to fail and make little leaking cracks.

So this really wouldn’t be the fault of the growing root as it would be the fault of the aging liner.

What Causes Rust in Above Ground Pools in Orlando

Above-ground pools getting rust is a big issue. During my now 38 years of working with abovegrounds in Orlando, I have seen all kinds of rust for all kinds of reasons.

I have also seen a lot of rust on above-ground pools that can’t be explained. It seems that 29 years ago, I had no problem putting the “why” on rust. With approaching four decades of observing pools, I’m now more uncertain of the origin of rust.

Deductive reasoning and common sense usually serves me and others well in determining things. When it comes to things like leaks and rust with above-ground pools though, what clearly looks like the culprit oftentimes isn’t.

FIRST OFF, SALT WATER ABOVE GROUND POOLS CAN NOT CAUSE RUST IN THE WALLS

People love to blame having a salt chlorine generator on their above-ground pool for the rust it developed. I did too early on with salt pools. Until I saw the same rust in the same places on the same models of the same manufacturers whether the pool was a salt pool or not.

What’s accurate here is that if someone gets rust on their pool and it has a chlorine generator (salt pool), then they will blame the salt water.

And if someone gets rust on their pool and it doesn’t have a chlorine generator, then they blame something else. That’s the reality.

IF YOU USE CHLORINE FOR YOUR POOL, THEN IT ALSO HAS SALTWATER

I’m not going to get into the chemistry here. I’ll just say that all pools that use chlorine have salt in the water. The difference can be the amount of salt. Some older pools that have a residual of salt from some years of shocking/tablets can have a higher content of salt than what is required for a salt chlorine generator (salt pool) to work.

Certainly, salt water can be extremely corrosive. Anyone living close to Cocoa beach knows this. Salt water above-ground pools though only have about one-tenth of the salt as the average ocean. This isn’t enough to cause much damage if any from wind blown or splashing exposure.

UNLESS FROM A LEAK (OR A BEAD CHANNEL) SALTWATER NEVER TOUCHES THE POOLS WALL

There is a liner between the water of a metal-walled above-ground pool and its wall, so to think that salt water somehow causes a wall to rust out is most likely inaccurate.

8 REASONS AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL WILL GET RUST

1 A leak (Number one reason)

Having a leak somewhere in the liner against the pool’s wall is by far the number one reason a pool will develop rust. This is why is super important to fix the leak ASAP.

Most leaks are at the only two openings in the liner, which are the skimmer and return fitting. Seeing rust under the skimmer box or return line is a sure sign that the skimmer or return has been leaking for a while.

2 Ground moisture. But only sometimes

I have seen rust at the bottom of above-ground pools often. Sometimes I can tell why and sometimes I cannot.

Sometimes the earth is wet regularly around and under the pool. With this, the moisture may eventually get under the protective coating on the pool wall and it starts rusting.

Sometimes the bottom track will rust out but the wall is perfect. Sometimes the wall rusts out and the bottom track is perfect. With this, it’s hard to tell why one metal part of the pool got rust while the other got none.

NOTE: I have seen the bottom of pools rust out when they were high and dry. With that, I have no explanation.

In Orlando and Central Florida, we get morning dew where everything get wet. But then when the sun comes up, everything dries out. As long as everything is getting dry, you should be good.

3 A hole in the wall

Above-ground pools get holes from lawnmowers, kids throwing sharp things, and other ways that go unclaimed. Sometimes people shoot pools. I mean, this is Florida.

Having a hole in the wall means that rust can begin. And when rust starts, it continues. Fixing a hole in the wall to prevent moisture from getting in quickly is a good idea.

4 Manufacturer defect

I don’t make metal walls and other parts for above-ground pools, so I can’t say why they fail and start to rust, but I can say that they do.

Pools will randomly just get a rust hole in the wall for no reason. Then there will be another. And there will be no sign of a leak. They just start rusting.

The same goes for other metal parts of the pool’s frame. They will rust for no reason and usually within the first year or so.

5 Trapped moisture due to poor design

Above-ground pool frames have top connector plates and stabilizer bars which are under the top rails and top caps.

If a particular model isn’t designed OR engineered well, then rainwater or pool-splashing water can get trapped under the top rail and just sit there until it starts rusting out the metal parts.

In Orlando, we get a lot of rain often. If your pool has a poor design, it will trap water all summer

6 Bead channels

If your pool has a beaded liner, then the top of the liner feeds into a channel near the top of the pool’s wall.

This channel comes in pieces of four or five-foot sections that butt together. Where they butt together, water can get into the crack and go drip in the back of the liner between it and the inside of the wall. Not good!

I never recommend beaded liners for above-ground pools for this reason. They will cause a pool wall to rust at every section of the bead channel.

7 Trapped chlorine gas

As corrosive as chlorine is because of its salt content in the water, chlorine as a gas is twice as corrosive. Now, chlorinated water will gas off some at the pool’s surface.

If the pool’s top frame design allows for air to get trapped under the top rails, then this very mild but very corrosive chlorine gas will get trapped and cause rust under the top rails.

This is why your metal top rails may have more rust underneath them than on top.

PREVENTING RUST IN YOUR ABOVE-GROUND POOL

I truly wish I could give you a detailed list of things to do to prevent your pool from rusting. The reality is that I can only recommend one thing.

When your pool gets a leak, find it and fix it as soon as you can. That is all I’ve got.

Remodeling an Above Ground Pool in Orlando

Updating or upgrading an above-ground swimming pool is very limited. Since above-ground pools are manufactured kits and not custom-made, there is very little that you can do to change them.

There are thousands of existing above-ground pools in Orlando. And with people constantly moving here along with a very long swim season, many find themselves with an above-ground swimming pool that they want to look better.

THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MAKE YOUR ABOVE-GROUND POOL LOOK BETTER

Don’t like the way your AG pool looks? There’s not a lot you can do, but there are some things.

1 Change the liner

Here in Orlando and Central Florida, a quality liner will last an average of 5-8 years. Well before that though, some will fade or “bleach” completely white.

Getting a new liner for your pool is the biggest improvement that you can make both for its appearance and performance. A liner changeout gives you an opportunity to make these upgrades:

A Upgrade the liner or change the pattern

Liners for above-ground pools come in three types and several patterns. Going from an overlap type to a j-hook/unibead type can make the pool look better from the outside (as you will no longer see any liner hanging over the pool’s wall).

Getting a liner with a tile pattern or one with fish on it can be fun and change the look of your pool.

B Fix and smooth out the pool’s bottom

If you have been swimming in a pool with a rough and bumpy bottom or you can now feel roots or sharp things, then changing the liner and redoing the pool bottom can be a major improvement.

Also, fixing and smoothing your pool bottom will make it easier to vacuum or auto cleaner to do its job.

C Adding a main drain

Is your pool hard to maintain? Adding a main drain will give your pool perfect circulation AND make it easier to keep clean.

NOTE: Adding a main drain can only be done when changing the liner

D Making a deep center

Above-ground swimming pools are made to have flat bottoms. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a deeper center if you want.

A well-shaped deep center that is one foot deeper can be done using a standard liner (for the size of your pool) with usually no wrinkles. This can upgrade the swim experience more than you might think.

NOTE: Adding a deep center to an existing pool is not easy or cheap. This is partially because the earth has to be dug out and thrown over the pool wall.

2 Rebuild the wood deck

Here in Orlando, wood decks take a beating from the harsh sun and summer weather, so they don’t last forever.

Because they deteriorate slowly, people will find themselves dealing with a worn-out deck and not realize that it looks bad and is hazardous.

Changing out the deck boards on an above-ground pool’s wood deck is a hard and expensive job, but looks and feels beautiful when done.

3 Replacing rusty, faded, cracked, or sun-beaten top rails and caps

Parts for above-ground pools are freakishly expensive! If you are looking to upgrade the look of your pool though and the top rails are in poor condition, it may be worth it to replace them.

MY OPINION: Before spending any real money on pool frame parts, make sure the pool’s wall is in good condition on the inside. This can only really be done during the time of changing the pool’s liner, so wait for liner change time before considering these purchases.

4 Add a deck or more deck

Do you have an above-ground pool out in the yard with no deck? Adding a deck either high up or at ground level will make the pool look better and increase your pool user experience tenfold.

Now, decks are expensive. I just want to acknowledge that while I’m spending your money LOL.

5 Add landscaping

Central Florida is considered “humid subtropical”. This means a lot of things will grow here.

Adding borders, walkways, and lighting along with plants, rocks, or mulch incorporated with an above-ground pool can make a difference like night and day.

Start by standing outside your back door or looking out the window. Visualize what some layered landscaping can do to make your pool and pool area look amazing.

6 Replacing the top rails with composite wood

Replacement parts for above-ground pools are ridiculously expensive. I just changed the liner for a guy who bought new top rails and top caps for his 18-year-old, 24’ round pool. The top rails were $111 each and the top caps were $45 each (2024 prices). So, at 16 pieces each, this guy paid almost $2500 for these parts.

I would never recommend paying that much to make an above-ground pool frame look refreshed. Usually, if the top rails must be replaced, I say to buy a whole new pool. That way for a little more, you get everything new.

Some have replaced their pool’s top rails with composite wood planks. This will take some level of carpenter skills, but you may be surprised how good you can make the top of the pool look using wood.

WHAT I DON’T RECOMMEND DOING TO MAKE YOUR ABOVE-GROUND POOL LOOK BETTER

Over my now 38 years of working with above-ground swimming pools in Orlando, I have seen people do two things that I don’t recommend.

The first is painting your pool wall and uprights. Those who hate the look of their pool’s wall and choose to paint it are rarely happy with the outcome.

The second is pool owners will cover their pool wall with lattice or wood siding. I don’t recommend this because it’s better for an above-ground to have an open breathable space outside and around it. You don’t want any moisture to get trapped anywhere near the pool’s wall.

Also, structures with or without plants too close to the pool will promote bugs, bees, snakes, and other critters that you don’t want in or near your pool.

MOVING AND/OR SINKING AN EXISTING ABOVE-GROUND POOL IS USUALLY TOO EXPENSIVE

It’s common for people to want to improve their above-ground pool by either moving it to another location in the yard AND/OR burying it some.

While this can greatly improve the look of the pool and yard, people rarely decide to make this change after hearing how much it will cost.

Depending on the pool size and shape, it can typically cost in the range of 2K-3K to take down, re-install, and dig a hole for a semi-inground application. And don’t forget any pool that is moved will need a new liner.

Help! My above ground pool is leaking in Orlando

It’s never fun when you realize that your above-ground swimming pool is losing water. Here in Orlando, there aren’t many to help you with this issue. In most cases, you’re on your own.

Over the last 38 years of being in the pool business, I have had a lot of people call me to ask about their pool leaking. In this time, I’ve learned that there is a clear first step.

FIRST, MAKE SURE YOUR POOL ACTUALLY HAS A LEAK

If I had a dollar for every time someone thought they had a leak in their above-ground pool but actually didn’t, then I’d have a lot more money than years ago when I used to say “If I had a dime for every…..”.

It’s very common for people to think their pool is leaking when it isn’t. Hopefully, this is the case for you. Here are common ways pools lose water without a leak.

A Evaporation

In Orlando, I have seen pools lose up to 1/4 inch of water per day from evaporation. This may not seem like much, but over a week, that’s almost two inches of water loss.

Loss from evaporation is highest in the drier months, so in Central Florida, expect to lose more water in the fall and spring. Also, it doesn’t rain consistently in the fall and spring as it does in the summer, so that can add to your thinking that there is a leak.

B Heavy bather load

Lots of swimmers (especially kids) can remove more water from the pool than some think. Splashing and exiting the pool will remove some water. And that can add up. A swimmer can pull out as much as four gallons of water when exiting the pool. Although, most won’t pull that much.

C Garden hose left in pool

When adding water to the pool, you use a garden hose which is connected to your water source.

When the pool is filled up, some will turn off the water spigot AND leave the hose in the pool. With the spigot turned off, sometimes the water will siphon out through the hose in the opposite direction and you won’t notice.

This sounds like it can’t happen, but it does. More often than you think.

MARK THE WATER LEVEL, CHECK EVERY 24 HOURS

To make sure that you have a leak, mark the water level in the pool well every 24 hours. Take into account any rain and don’t add any water.

Record the water loss.

DEFINITELY HAVE A LEAK? DO THE SIMPLE THINGS FIRST

1 Now that you know you have a leak, before calling anyone, look closely around the pump, filter, and lines going to the pool. Look for moisture.

NOTE: The plastic flex hoses that attach the pump and filter to the skimmer and return don’t last forever and can get pinhole leaks in them.

2 Look under the skimmer box and at the wall under the return fitting for moisture.

NOTE: An above-ground pool has only two openings in the liner – the skimmer and the return fitting. This is a very common area for leaks.

3 Look closely around the outside of the pool next to the wall. Move anything out of your way to see if the ground is unusually wet next to the bottom of the wall.

4 With the pump off and the water very still, look into the pool at the bottom for any new divots or cavities. This is where leaking water can cause ruts or crevasses in the pool’s bottom.

NEXT STEP – TURN OFF THE PUMP AND LET THE WATER LEVEL DROP DOWN

It’s important to rule out a leak at the pool’s equipment (pump/filter, etc.) or skimmer/return by allowing the leaking water level to drop lower than the skimmer and return openings in the pool.

NOTE: If the water level drops well below the skimmer and return openings (and you don’t have a main drain), then your leak is in the liner somewhere.

FINDING A LEAK IN THE LINER IS DIFFICULT

If you have successfully ruled out the leak being in the equipment or the skimmer/return fitting, then it’s most likely in the liner somewhere.

Finding a hole in an above-ground pool liner can be very hard. If attempting yourself, you will need at least dye, an applicator (syringe, ear dropper, etc), a water mask, a weight belt, and a lot of patience.

WHO TO CALL FOR AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL LEAK IN ORLANDO?

For this, I have some bad but accurate news. You’re most likely not going to find a pool person in Orlando to look for a leak in an above-ground pool. If you are in the country some in Lake, Polk, or Volusia counties, you may find a pool guy out there that’s willing to attempt it, but don’t hold your breath (unless you’re looking for a leak underwater)

You will be able to get a leak detection company to look for it, but it’s going to be expensive. Maybe more than it’s worth.

In most cases, you will have to find the leak on your own. The good news is that once you find it, the hole is often easy to patch using an underwater patch kit.

IF THE POOL OR LINER WAS JUST INSTALLED, IT MAY BE A SEAM SEPARATION

Above-ground pool liners are made from vinyl pieces that are fused together. These seams connect the floor vinyl pieces with the side pieces. Sometimes, these fused seams will fail and open up.

This almost always happens within a day or two of the liner getting installed.

A “seam separation” is a manufacturer’s defect, so you will get a new liner for free, but that’s it. You’ll have to pay to have the liner put in and pay for the new water and any startup chemicals you just lost though.

IF THE LINER IS FOUR YEARS OLD OR OLDER AND LEAKING, CONSIDER REPLACING IT

Here in Orlando, the average life of a quality above-ground pool liner is 5 – 8 years. As they get older, the vinyl material becomes brittle. And as it gets brittle, the liner will start getting little holes or cracks in it.

At that point, it’s best to just replace the entire liner as it will continue to get more and more little holes in it.

I REPLACE ABOVE-GROUND POOL LINERS

If you have discovered that you will be needing a new liner for your pool, then contact me if you don’t want to do it yourself. Sometimes in the summer, I’m too busy with full pool installs to do liner changeouts, but in the colder months, I’m always available. Here’s a liner change price sheet.

There is Rust on My Above Ground Pool in Orlando

With traditional above-ground swimming pools in Orlando, rust can be one of the biggest concerns. Some rust is really no big deal while other rust means the end of the pool.

When is rust a concern? When is it no big deal? Hopefully, this article will help answer some questions.

METAL-WALLED ABOVE-GROUND POOLS ARE MADE OF STEEL, ALUMINUM, OR RESIN PARTS

Also called “hard-sided” AG pools come in all different variations of what parts are made of what. An above-ground pool has a wall, frame, and vinyl liner.

99 percent of the time, the wall of the pool is made of either steel or aluminum. Both will corrode (Steel makes a rust color, while aluminum pits away in small white circles)

The frame of the pool can be made of either steel, aluminum, resin, and usually a combination of a couple of those.

Only parts made of steel or aluminum will corrode.

PARTS OF AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL THAT CAN RUST (CORRODE)

1 The outside of the wall under the skimmer or return fitting

This is one of the most concerning areas to have rust. Rust in this area usually means that the skimmer box or the return fitting is leaking and has been for a while. This is not good.

Rust in this area should be looked at closely and addressed immediately.

Some surface rust is not ideal, but OK. It’s when the rust gets deeper into the metal wall that there will be a major issue.

The wall of the pool holds all the water, so if the rust starts to weaken the wall’s ability to hold the water, then it will burst and the pool will need replacing.

2 The outside of the wall at the bottom

Sometimes the pool’s wall will rust at the bottom. This can be due to ground moisture, what is sitting next to the pool (at ground level), foliage growing next to the pool, a weed whacker removing the coating, etc.

Rust at the bottom of the wall is concerning if it is starting to rust deep into the wall. Sticking a screwdriver into the rust area will help tell you how deep it is.

3 Rust in the outside middle of the wall

Rust somewhere randomly in the middle of the wall usually means something hit the pool causing it to scratch or dent and began the rust process. This can be from a rock thrown from a lawnmower, kids throwing things, a neighbor shooting his gun or bow(welcome to Florida), etc.

It’s usually not an issue, but again, using something to poke at the rusted area will tell you if it’s rusting into the wall.

4 Rust on the top rails

rust on top rail of above ground pool in Orlando

Rusty top rails usually aren’t any cause for concern unless it’s severe. If it’s so rusty that there are jagged, sharp areas, then that can be dangerous to swimmers.

Most of the time though, rust on top rails just looks bad and people can live with that.

5 Rusty upright/s (vertical supports)

Some will get very concerned when they discover that one or two of their pool’s uprights are rusting through. This will not look good, but in most cases, the pool will be fine even if a couple of uprights are rusted completely in half.

They have just some structural value for the pool’s frame, but not much for the wall(which is what holds the water), so don’t be alarmed in that regard.

6 Rusty parts under the top rails

Under the top rails of an AG pool, there will be connector plates and top stabilizer bars. Regardless of what the top rails are made of, what’s under them can be made of steel or aluminum.

Sometimes a pool owner will notice some small pieces of rust in the pool and wonder where it’s coming from. Usually, the rust is flaking off of either the top connectors OR the stabilizer bars from under the top rails.

Taking a peek under the pool’s top rails from the outside of the pool will show if anything is rusting.

Rusty top connector plates and stabilizer bars can be annoying if flaking off into the pool water, but they don’t need to be addressed right away.

If these parts are becoming very rusty though, then they may have to be replaced when it’s time to change the liner in the pool as they all have to come off.

7 Surface rust at the inside of the pool’s wall

Surface rust inside of an above ground pool in Orlando

Usually, rust can only be identified inside of the wall when the liner is removed, which is usually during a liner changeout.

With this, some surface rust is ok and won’t hurt anything. If there is a lot of surface rust though, wall foam is recommended before installing the new liner.

This is a thin layer of foam glued onto the wall which will prevent the rust from touching the new liner anywhere.

8 Deep rust at the inside of the pool’s wall

rust spot on above ground pool at bottom of the wall

Again, usually discovered during a liner changeout, deep rust that is penetrating through the wall is cause for concern. Use a screwdriver or utility knife and poke the rusted areas to assess how deep the rust is or if it has rusted completely through the wall.

Rust on the walls that is penetrating deep into the metal is a major issue. One that is usually the cause for a total pool replacement.

WHAT CAUSES RUST ON ABOVE-GROUND POOLS?

When mixing metal with moisture, you’re going to have corrosion. So, swimming pools with metal parts that are outside have a high likelihood of corroding.

Not all above-ground pool rust though. In my now 38 years of working with them, I have seen many pools that are 10, 15, and even 20 years old with not a piece of rust. Most will rust some though with little issue.

Here in Orlando and Central Florida, we get morning dew. Dew makes everything outside a little wet in the morning. Then when that Florida sun comes up, it heats and dries everything back out. This can happen 200 days a year or more in Central Florida.

Dew isn’t an issue with above-ground pools because everything dries completely in a couple of hours. So, it’s when moisture stays on metal pool parts for extended periods of time that will cause corrosion or rust. Like if the pool has a leak for example.

A small leak in your above-ground pool may be no be deal to you (especially during the Orlando summer when it rains every day), but allowing it to continue may be keeping the metal wall wet in an area for too long.

Prolonged exposure to wetness can eventually cause the protective coatings of metal pool parts to break down or lift which exposes the metal to moisture. Then rust begins.

TREATING RUSTY PARTS OF AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL

When some have rust on their pool’s top rails, they will take them off, sand them down, and then paint them with some form of anti-rust coating (like Rustoleum).

This usually will make the top rails look better for a while, but eventually, the rust comes back. Usually, rust comes back sooner than later for all parts that pool owners try to protect. Most will feel it wasn’t worth all that sanding and painting as it didn’t buy them much time.

Some will go through the big job of sanding down all the surface rust on the inside wall of their AG pool, Then they coat it with different things. Most just use Rustoleum paint and others will spend a lot on a fancier anti-corrosion chemical, then paint.

With the inside of pool walls, treating the rusted walls do rarely any good at all (except give good exercise to those who sanded them down). The corrosion almost always continues right after a new liner goes in and the pool is filled and back in use.

So, for rusted parts of an above-ground pool, I recommend either living with them (if they aren’t too bad) or seeing if you can find replacement parts and replace them.

NOTE: Sometimes you can replace metal top connectors and stabilizer bars with resin-made ones. Will-bar made pools do offer this on a couple of models.

If your pool wall (on the inside) has only surface rust, then I recommend buying and using wall foam when the time comes to change the liner. This will protect the new liner from being damaged by the surface rust

And if your pool’s wall is rusted completely through, you may be able to repair it with a partial wall replacement, but that is expensive, and hard to find someone who can do it correctly. More than likely, Replacing the entire pool is the way to go if the area is rusted through low and more than a couple of inches wide.

WHEN A RUSTED ABOVE-GROUND POOL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED

There are four main reasons that you may want to replace your AG pool due to rust/corrosion.

A The wall is rusted through

With an above-ground pool, it’s the wall that holds all of that water in place. The entire pool frame can be rusted, broken, or even removed, the pool will stay up.

A little rust hole towards the bottom of the wall though, and the pool can split open sending thousands of gallons of water into the yard and killing the pool.

Rusted-through pool walls should be addressed quickly as it can be a dangerous situation. In many cases, replacing the entire pool is the best answer.

B Rusting top rails are a danger to swimmers

The top rails of an above-ground pool are where swimmers will grab onto while using the pool or use them to get in or out of the water.

Rusted and jagged top rails can pose a threat to swimmers by cutting them when they grab on. Not cool.

When you can’t find replacement top rails (for your model) or it’s too expensive to do so, then replacing the pool is the best option.

C Pieces of rust are falling into the water

When top connectors, stabilizer bars, or even top rails are severely rusted, small pieces of rust will come off and fall into the pool. This can be a pain to constantly clean up. Also, sharp rusty pieces can cause holes in aged liners or can poke into swimmer’s feet.
If replacement parts cannot be found or it’s too expensive to replace them all, then the best option often is replacing the entire pool.

D The pool looks ugly

Some just get tired of looking at the rust on their pool and elect to replace it. In many cases, it needs replacing anyway.

Replacing an Above Ground Pool in Orlando

Even though most who get an above-ground pool are thinking that they will only have it for a few years, many decide to keep them beyond the pool’s life AND wind up replacing it with a new one.

Every year in Orlando, I remove existing above-ground pools and replace them with brand-new ones. Often, they are replaced in the same place with the same size and shape.

WHEN IS IT TIME TO REPLACE YOUR ABOVE-GROUND POOL

Traditional above-ground swimming pools don’t last forever. Most will need replacing because the wall of the pool has become too rusty and is either in danger of blowing out (all of the pool’s water into the yard) or has already blown out.

For some others, the top rails have become rusty (if made of steel) or are cracking, discolored, sagging, or breaking (if made of resin). This has made the pool look bad and/or unpleasant to swim in.

In Orlando and surrounding towns, expect an above-ground pool to last between 10 and 20 years due to Central Florida’s harsh weather.

Other less common reasons to replace an AG pool are as follows:

A Big tree branches fell on them

B Tornadoes ( I replaced one that got sucked up into the sky in Deland during a tornado)

C Very poorly installed (They don’t last long when extremely off-level or out of shape)

D Pet horses rubbing against them (happened in Geneva once)

E Cows falling into them (happened in the Manor in St Cloud)

F Cars driving into them (Replaced for this reason in Kissimmee )

G Can’t get frame parts for the model anymore

H Neighbors accidentally shooting holes in them ( I’ve replaced several for this reason. Welcome to Florida)

REPLACING AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL WITH AN EXISTING DECK

Wood deck for an 18' round above ground pool in Winter Park Florida

In Orlando, having a deck along with an AG pool is very common. Here are some things you should know about replacing the old pool next to your deck with a new one.

1 The new pool very rarely will go back in the exact spot

Even though you are getting the same size pool, chances are that you won’t be able to get the new pool’s uprights exactly where the old ones were.

So, if the existing pool’s deck was built around the pool’s uprights, the new pool won’t fit perfectly to each cutout in the deck.

This is because every pool and model has slightly different dimensions AND each upright has a slightly different distance between them. So, if your deck is perfect to the existing pool, it won’t be perfect to the new pool.

2 In almost all cases, the deck was built AFTER the pool was installed.

Why does this matter? Because if your existing pool is out of round slightly AND/OR is not level, then the deck was built for a pool that is out of round and/or out of level.

Sooo, when the new pool goes in and the installer (like me) does a good job, the new pool will be level and in the correct shape (usually round). Soooo, if the existing deck is NOT quite level or built for a correctly shaped pool, then it will look and be off (not perfect).

3 Above ground pools come in three different heights – 48”, 52”, and 54”

Now why does THIS matter? Many decks are built to a specific height in relation to the height of the existing pool. So, if your new pool is a different height than the old one, then it will either sit higher (usually) or lower next to the deck than the old one did.

It’s common for people to want their new pool to be at the same level (in relation to the deck) as the old one was. If this is you, then my advice is to make sure your new pool is the same height as the old one.

This can be an issue if you have an older pool that is 48” tall. Most AG pools now are 52” and 54” high, so it can be hard to find a nice 48” walled pool anymore.

For most cases, if the new pool has a taller wall, then install the pool at the same level as the old one and just have a higher-looking pool sitting next to the deck. Unless your existing deck is sitting over the top rails that is.

4 Some decking may have to be cut to fit the new pool

During my years of martial arts training, I learned the 3 rules of fighting someone with a knife – Rule 1 “You’re gonna get cut”, Rule 2 “You’re gonna get cut”, and Rule 3 “You’re gonna get cut”.

After 38 years of replacing above-ground pools next to decks, I have one thing to say to the deck – “You’re gonna get cut”.

Yep, many decks have to get cut a little to make the new pool fit as close as possible. Try to accept this fact early on and you’ll be happier.

5 If needed, this is a great time to repair or replace the decking

REPLACING AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL THAT IS SEMI-INGROUND

Semi-inground 18' round above ground pool in Sanford, fl caved in

Here in Orlando, sinking an above-ground pool partially in the ground is very common. AG pools in the ground some will last just as long as those above the ground, but some will need replacing.

It’s a little harder to replace an above-ground pool when its semi in the ground. You have to get in and out of that hole a lot and that takes extra energy. The biggest thing you should know though is this:

Replacing a semi-inground pool requires you to dig the hole bigger all the way around by AT LEAST eight inches. (For many, a foot wider or more is required)

It’s common to not think about the extra space it takes to assemble an above-ground pool. I mean, you can’t put the pool together somewhere else and helicopter it into place from the sky. LOL

Shaving the existing hole 8-12 inches bigger all the way around can be a bit of a job with things like roots from landscaping, decorative stones or mulch in the way, and/or weed-blocking materials. It can really be a party dealing with all of that stuff.

The good news here is that most of greater Orlando is sand-based, so shaving the hole should be easier than if it was hard earth.

And the dirt dug out to make the hole bigger will be in piles around the pool area, which can make a bit of a mess.

REPLACING AN OVAL ABOVE-GROUND POOL

The biggest thing to know here is that ovals have structures along their straight sides called buttresses. Every size and model can have a different number of buttresses AND they can sit in different spots within the pool’s footprint.

So, if you’re replacing an oval in a tight spot, you may not have the room for where the new pool’s buttresses will be protruding from the pool’s wall along the straight sides.

This can be an issue too if you have an existing deck. I often have to move either a couple of 4×4 wood deck supports OR shift where the new pool is going because the new buttresses are running into the existing deck supports.

Orlando Above Ground Pool Installations

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